ToKCast Ep 246: The Farthest Reaches Part 2
Sep 16, 2025
Delve into the fascinating interplay between IQ, culture, and success, where social behaviors and communication skills are just as crucial. Explore the universal capacity for language learning, challenging racial stereotypes and advocating for the complexities of identity. The discourse on gender identity navigates societal norms and the psychological challenges individuals face. Finally, consider immigration dynamics, emphasizing the necessity of cultural adaptation and the importance of rational policies that uphold democratic values.
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IQ Tests Measure Learnable Skills
- Brett Hall argues IQ tests measure learned skills, not innate brain wiring, because minds are universal explainers.
- Timed puzzles can be practiced and outsourced to tools, so IQ cannot be a fixed biological limit.
Culture Is Learned Software
- Hall claims any culture can be learned by any human because minds are universal software.
- Cultural belonging is therefore a continuous choice, not a fixed biological fact.
Polyglot YouTubers Surprise Locals
- Hall recounts videos of Europeans mastering regional Chinese dialects to astonish locals.
- He uses these examples to show people can adopt precise language and regional cultural markers.
